Three Key Battles That Will Decide Tottenham vs Chelsea: Harry Kane vs John Terry And More

Having won just one of their last four away games in the Premier League, Chelsea visit White Hart Lane knowing that nothing less than a win against Tottenham will do, if they are to maintain their gap over second-placed Manchester City. Spurs on the other hand will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the League to six games and exact revenge for their 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge at the start of the month.

With both sides desperate for a win, it should be a cracking game at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day. Here are the three key battles that will decide the outcome of the game.

1. Harry Kane vs John Terry

For all the money spent of foreign players, it is Harry Kane, the club’s academy graduate who has established himself as the club’s first-choice striker. The Englishman is already into double digits for the season and his vision, tireless running and ability to be in the right place at the right time means that he is a menace to any defense, even one as well-drilled as Chelsea.

As good as John Terry is, he doesn’t have the pace he once had and that was evident from Southampton’s goal on Sunday. While he is still one of the best centre backs in the country, it is fair to say that the pace and the work-ethic of Kane should be a handful for the 34-year-old. Neither he nor Gary Cahill have the pace to cope with the 21-year-old. If Kane is able to able to make use of this and pressurize the Chelsea captain into a mistake and capitalize on it, the title race would become wide open for the first time this season.

2. Christian Eriksen vs Eden Hazard

Hazard

Of all the players that Spurs bought with the money they received from Gareth Bale, Christian Eriksen has proven to be the pick of the bunch. The Danish playmaker has excelled under Pochettino and although he has always had an eye for a pass, this season, Eriksen seems to have added goals as well. The 22-year-old is the club’s top scorer in the League this season with seven goals and the home side will be looking to him for inspiration to break down the disciplined Chelsea defense.

After attracting criticism at the early part of the season, Eden Hazard’s performances in the last two months demonstrated just why he is one of the most entertaining players to watch in the Premier League. When teams sit back and invite pressure, it is the Belgian who often proves to the key to unlocking the defense, with his low centre of gravity and innate ability to not just hold onto the ball but also make good use of it. If Hazard is on song, there aren’t many defenses in the world, that can handle him and Spurs will have to make sure that they are on their toes at all times.

2. Thibaut Courtois vs Hugo Lloris

Since his return from a loan spell with Atletico Madrid, Thibaut Courtois has established himself as the No.1 not just at the club, but also in the League. While many keepers are good shot-stoppers, there are few, if any, who command their box as well as Courtois does. In an age where many keepers prefer punching rather than catching the ball, the 22-year-old’s penchant for catching any cross that comes in, is rare. So is his ability to come off his line confidently to claim the ball and make his defenders lives a lot easier.

Although Spurs have only kept five clean sheets this season, four of them have been at home and the main reason behind them has been their keeper, Hugo Lloris. After an error-prone start to English football, the Frenchman has knuckled down and become one of the top keepers in the League. If the home side are to have any chance of taking anything from the game, they will need their keeper to be on his A-game, just like he was against Manchester United on Sunday, where he single-handedly gained his side a point.